I was thrilled to discover tonight that the second season of The Great British Baking Show has begun! I highly recommend this show. While I find most food competition shows I’ve seen to be insufferable, this one is wonderful. In contrast with the norm, the judges are straightforward, while pleasant and kind. The hosts are rather funny. The contestants, though competitive, do not put each other down. Best of all, one can pick up a lot of useful baking tips while watching. While they bake, the contestants talk through procedure and what worked and what went wrong. For example, tonight I learned that you shouldn’t butter the tin of an angel food cake, or it will fall out of the pan too quickly and condense, losing its airiness. Also, chocolate must be heated and cooled at precise temperatures to achieve a shine for chocolate decoration. It’s such a fun show! It airs on PBS and episodes are also available online.